Tributes poured in from all quarters, including people across the cultural arena, political divide, eminent citizens and general masses, for the renowned actor Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooque, at Central Shaheed Minar premises on Tuesday.
Farooque's body was brought to the central Shaheed Minar at around 11:30am on the initiative of the Sommilito Sangskritik Jote to pay tribute to people from all walks of life and was kept till 12:45pm.
Floral tributes were paid on behalf of President Mohammad Shahabuddin, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Choudhury.
In addition, various political parties, theater groups, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, eminent politicians, movie stars and a crowd of general people gathered and paid their respects to the renowned actor.
Awami League General Secretary and also Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader also paid tribute at the Shaheed Minar.
He said: “He cherished the spirit of the liberation war. He was steadfast on the question of ideals, steadfast as a mountain. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rewarded him by nominating him to the Gulshan seat in the national parliament election. But in the cruel irony of fate, he did not have time to do anything for the locals. He was in a coma in a hospital in Singapore for many days. A few days ago I heard his voice on the telephone. We thought he would recover. We have a lot to learn from him. Especially on the question of ideals, he did not get confused even in crisis.”
Roshan Hossain Pathan Sarat, son of Farooque, said: "You have come to pay tribute to my father for the last time. Thank you for that. If he has hurt someone, please forgive him. Pray for my father, may Allah grant him heaven.”
From Shaheed Minar, the body will be taken to the premises of Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC) and his first namaz-e-janaza will be held there after Zuhr prayer.
The mortal remains of renowned actor Akbar Hossain Pathan, popularly known as Farooque, arrived in Dhaka from Singapore on Tuesday morning, a day after his demise.
The body was taken to his Uttara residence in the capital from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport around 8:15am, according to family members.
Around 3:30pm, the body will be taken to Channel i from BFDC, and finally it will be taken to Gazipur's Kaliganj where Farooque will be buried after another janaza at Gulshan Azad Mosque in Dhaka at 5pm.
The actor breathed his last at the age of 75 while undergoing treatment in Singapore on Monday morning.
He had been undergoing treatment there.
Farooque was elected an MP from Dhaka-17 constituency in the last national election. He made his debut on the big screen in H Akbar's film "Jolchhobi". His performance in "Lathiyal" earned him a National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1975.
He was fondly known as "Mia Bhai" to the masses. He appeared in over 150 films in a career spanning more than five decades.
